Who is Dennis Jaffe

Dr Dennis Jaffe is a world-recognised leader in the field of family business. Dennis has helped families all over the world manage the personal and organisational issues that lead to successful and fulfilling transfer of businesses, wealth, values, commitments and legacies between generations. 

He believes that the challenges facing family businesses are largely human, not financial or legal, and are best addressed by creating clear agreements, effective structures and clear communication within a family, and with its employees and other stakeholders. 

He uses organisational management theory, psychology and mediation techniques and encourages small businesses to understand the wider social conditions and the human dimensions that can determine the success or failure of the business beyond the first generation.

Dr Jaffe is Professor of Organisational Systems at Saybrook Graduate School in San Francisco, where he created their Organisational Systems doctoral program. He received his B.A. in Philosophy, M.A. in Management, and Ph.D. in Sociology, all from Yale University. He is a licensed psychologist. 

Dennis is a founding partner of the organisation Relative Solutions, helping multi-generational families effectively manage the complexity of decisions relating to their shared assets, by focusing on the intersection of family dynamics with ownership, enterprise management, and leadership. 

The author of numerous books and articles, Dr Jaffe has been honoured by the Family Firm Institute, the leading professional organisation in this field, with their Richard Beckhard Award for contribution to practice.